Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-q99xh Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-27T19:58:08.844Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Effects of plane of nutrition and environmental temperature on the growth and development of the early-weaned piglet 1. Growth and body composition

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 September 2010

W. H. Close  and
M. W. Stanier
W. H. Close
Affiliation:
AFRC Institute of Animal Physiology, Babraham, Cambridge CB2 4AT
M. W. Stanier
Affiliation:
AFRC Institute of Animal Physiology, Babraham, Cambridge CB2 4AT
Get access

Extract

1. Eighteen litters of piglets were weaned at 14 days of age and reared for a further 3 weeks at environmental temperatures of 18, 23 or 28°C. At each environmental temperature three levels of feeding were used. The changes in body composition of the piglets were studied by the comparative slaughter procedure, littermates being analysed at birth, and at 14, 22 and 36 days of age. For comparison, the bodies of suckled piglets of similar weights and ages were also analysed.

2. In the 2 to 3 day period following weaning, body weight decreased, with the greatest reduction being 0·28 (s.e. 002) kg at 18°C. Following this, body weight gain was dependent on both environmental temperature and level of feeding, although at any given level of food intake there was little difference between the values at 23 or 28°C.

3. There were marked changes in the chemical composition of the carcass in relation to the different temperature/feeding level combinations. The most variable component was fat. In the period following weaning there was considerable mobilization of fat, especially at the lower temperatures and feeding levels. The fat content of the early weaned piglets at 36 days of age (68 to 103 g/kg) was significantly less than that of the suckled piglets (169 g/kg) (P < 0·01). The decreases in fat content were accompanied by increases in the dry-matter content of the carcass.

4. The protein content of the carcass remained relatively independent of the different treatments, ranging from 140 to 164 g/kg for the early-weaned piglets, compared with 139 g/kg for those that had suckled their mothers.

5. The differences in the growth and body composition of the early-weaned piglet are discussed in relation to an inadequate food intake following weaning, to changes in nutrient supply and to variations in the climatic environment.

Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Production , Volume 38 , Issue 2 , April 1984 , pp. 211 - 220
Copyright
Copyright © British Society of Animal Science 1984

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

Armstrong, W. D. and Clawson, A. J. 1980. Nutrition and management of early weaned pigs: effect of increased nutrient concentration and (or) supplemental liquid feeding. J. Anim. Sci. 50: 377–384.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Braude, R., Keal, H. D. and Newport, M. J. 1977. Artificial rearing of pigs. 6. The effect of different levels of fat, protein and methionine in a milksubstitute containing skim milk and soya-bean oil. Br. J. Nutr. 37: 187–194.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Braude, R. and Newport, M. J. 1973. Artificial rearing of pigs. 4. The replacement of butterfat in a wholemilk diet by either beef tallow, coconut oil or soyabean oil. Br. J. Nutr. 29: 447–455.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Close, W. H. and Mount, L. E. 1975. The rate of heat loss during fasting in the growing pig. Br. J. Nutr. 34: 279–290.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Close, W. H. and Stanier, M. W. 1984. Effects plane of nutrition and environmental temperature on the growth and development of the early-weaned piglet. 2. Energy metabolism. Anim. Prod. 38: 221–231.Google Scholar
Kirchoessner, M. and Kellner, B. B. 1972. [Nitrogen and energy retention of early-weaned pigs on diets based on casein and dried skimmed milk.] Arch. Tiererndhr. 22: 249–265.Google Scholar
Le Dividich, J. 1981. Effects of environmental temperature on the growth rates of early-weaned piglets. Livestock Prod. Sci. 8: 75–86.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Le Dividich, J., Vermorel, M., Noblet, J., Bouvier, J. C. and Aumaitre, A. 1980. Effects of environmental temperature on heat production, energy retention, protein and fat gain in early-weaned piglets. Br. J. Nutr. 44: 313–323.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
McCracken, K. J., Caldwell, B. J. and Walker, N. 1979. A note on the effect of temperature on the performance of early-weaned pigs. Anim. Prod. 29: 423–426.Google Scholar
McCracken, K. J., Eddie, S. M. and Stevenson, W. G. 1980. Energy and protein nutrition of earlyweaned pigs. 2. Effect of energy intake and energy: protein on energy utilisation and body composition of pigs slaughtered at 32 d. Br. J. Nutr. 43: 305–319.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Manners, M. J. and McCrea, M. R. 1963. Changes in the chemical composition of sow-reared piglets during the 1st month of life. Br. J. Nutr. 17: 495–513.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Muller, H. L., Kirchgessner, M. and Kellner, B. B. 1974. [Nitrogen and energy deposition in early-weaned pigs given soya protein.] Arch. Tiererndhr 24: 175–186.Google Scholar
Seve, B. 1980. Age at weaning and development of body components of piglets from 3 to 25 kg liveweight. 31st Mtg Eur. Assoc. Anim. Prod. Munich, Pap. P. 5/6-27.Google Scholar
Whittemore, C. T., Aumaitre, A. and Williams, I. H. 1978. Growth of body components in young weaned pigs. J. agric. Sci., Camb. 91: 681–692.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Whittemore, C. T., Taylor, H. M., Henderson, R., Wood, J. D. and Brock, D. C. 1981. Chemical and dissected composition changes in weaned piglets. Anim. Prod. 32: 203–210.Google Scholar
Wood, A. J. and Groves, T. D. D. 1965. Body composition studies on the suckling pig. 1. Moisture, chemical fat, total protein, and total ash in relation to age and body weight. Can. J. Anim. Sci. 45: 8–13.CrossRefGoogle Scholar